The Hershey Bears needed some late heroics to put away Eastern Conference rival, the Toronto Marlies.
Thirty-five-year-old local product, Garrett Roe, scored in overtime to give the Bears a 3-2 victory.
Roe was set up brilliantly in three-on-three overtime by Alex Limoges, who sent a perfect sauce pass right onto Vienna, VA native’s blade. Roe beat Marlies goaltender Luke Cavallin easily from the slot for sudden victory. Hendrix Lapierre registered the secondary assist, his twelfth apple of the season.
The Bears’ victory came after a late third period rally by the Marlies, who got goals from Joseph Blandisi and Dylan Gambrell one minute and 26 seconds apart.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Matt Strome and Alex Limoges found paydirt in the second and third periods respectively. Strome, a Mississauga, ON native, had friends and family at Coca-Cola Coliseum for the game.
Limoges’ tally now gives him goals in five straight games and points in seven straight.
Hunter Shepard made 20 saves, some of which were brilliant, to notch his 20th win of the season. Shepard has won 20 of 23 games this season and has helped the Bears get a standings point in 21 of 23, posting a 2.09 goals against average and a 0.915 save percentage in his appearances.
Hershey was again without Ethen Frank who suffered a lower-body injury on February 9. The Bears were also without Lucas Johansen who is out week-to-week due to an upper-body injury.
Today's projected lineup against the Marlies📝
Alex Limoges has four goals in his last four games!
Catch the broadcast:
📺 @NHLNetwork (TOR feed)
🖥️ https://t.co/HaxQBmLCRZ
📻@FroggyValley, @foxsports1460am, @WOYK1350 (joined in progress) pic.twitter.com/Uj8nEEFD8t— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) February 17, 2024
Hershey’s next game is on Monday against the Belleville Senators.
